Today I received a call whilst at work from someone who travels the world talking to children about sharks and tries to promote shark conservation. He has spoken with over 20,000 students internationally. These are free presentations given to students in an attempt to educate kids about protecting sharks. I spoke with this shark researcher for about 30 seconds before redirecting him to someone whom I thought might be able to help him. I could not help but be surprised by the scale of his voluntary efforts. It was impressive to hear someone so driven by his passion and so willing to dedicate his time to this cause.
It got me thinking about what is important to me. I feel passionate about many things. I have always cared deeply about those less fortunate than me, and I have made some modest efforts in my life to help those people. I have always felt the urge to do more. I went to the Millennium Summit in Montreal a few years ago and heard Mia Farrow speak of the atrocities in Darfur. After visiting Sudan, Mia discussed how she felt a sense of responsibility to tell the world what was happening there. It touched me as she was using her voice (and celebrity) to speak for those in horrific circumstances and urged the world to take action. At the summit Desmond Tutu spoke about hope and how individuals can make a difference in the lives of others.
It is easy to take a passive course of action when confronted by people that need help. It is easy to reach into your wallet and donate $10. It is not as easy to make a commitment that involves sacrificing your own time to help someone. Allowing a cause to take up time and emotional space in your life is far more confronting that giving a credit card number to your favorite charity.
I have witnessed extreme suffering and poverty in Indonesia & Southern Africa. These experiences left me with a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Slowly as I readjusted to my comfortable life in suburbia, those memories became less jarring and my desire to help change the world became a simmering thought in the back of my mind.
I have travelled to every continent in the world. I believe that this opportunity also comes with the responsibility of not forgetting what you see. I have a personal responsibility to speak for those without a voice. I feel compelled to act and allow what I am passionate about to take up space in my life. 2014 will be the year of me giving more of myself to others….watch this space…..
